Corridor’s music is dense, in a good way, full of virtuosic instrumentation that is played deliberately dark. This is not lightweight pop. He’s the only cellist in rock and roll whose performances are worthy of playing air cello to.

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Malalai Joya—also known as Joya—gave a voice to the women, children and men of Afghanistan when she called out members of the newly elected parliament as warlords, narco-terrorists and war criminals. Her life has been in constant danger ever since, but she continues to speak out against the fundamentalist Islamic regime in Afghanistan and America’s involvement with warlords still in power over Afghan citizens.

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Gestapo Khazi play adrenalized surf-punk served straight up. If Dick Dale and the Wipers formed a band and put a three-minute limit on songs, it’d sound like this. I have no idea what the lyrics are about (surf conditions? Master Race? Cars? ObamaCare?) but who cares: it’s surf punk, so just stop thinking and go with it.

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This is supposed to be the record that bounces the Henry Clay into something big and it could really do it—it’s a worthy follow-up to last year’s local classic For Cheap or for Free and just the step they needed to take next.

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Amanda Jo Williams’ Georgia drawl stands out among the other singers in Echo Park and Silver Lake. I always felt her music was more in line with L.A.’s freak folk scene, but her newly reissued 2006 album doesn’t catalog comfortably alongside other freak folk releases.

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Girl In A Coma is an all-girl trio from San Antonio whose sound combines Smiths drama with punk energy while maintaining their Tex-Mex roots. The band has been touring non stop since the release of their first CD on Joan Jett’s Blackheart Records, and they have picked up some iconic fans along the way. They will be performing at Sunset Junction on Sunday.

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Sweden’s Junip is a heavy prog-folk band fronted by José González that sounds like it’s playing in outer space. They are giving their new EP away for free on their website. They talked to L.A. RECORD to discuss the reason they won’t record any more cover songs, the glory of American movie popcorn and more. This interview by Scott Schultz.

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Roky Erickson makes the world a better place simply by existing and released his first new music since 1994’s All That May Do My Rhyme this April on ANTI-. He speaks now with Will Sheff of Okkervil River, who are his new backing band and he plays the Fonda tonight. This interview by Chris Ziegler.

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Beijing’s music may be mostly unrecognized on these shores, but the best bands from China can definitely hold their own with L.A.’s finest. Los Angeles is awesome for recognizing this and welcom

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Yang Haisong is the singer of Beijing post-punk band P.K. 14 and one of the leading figures in the fledgling Beijing underground music scene. His band plays two shows in L.A. this week with two other top Beijing bands—Carsick Cars and AV Okubo. These shows will be the first in California by any rock bands from Beijing.

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